Over-running clutch



March 15, 1932. J. H. TROMANHAUSER 1,849,339

OVER-RUNNING CLUTGH Filed June 6, 1931 2 [he I I L /1 ."l% 1 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 p I 1,849,339,

UNITED STATES if I JESSE n. rnommvsmt, or ronomo, ONTARIO, CANADA l OVER-RUNNING cLU'rcn Application filed June a, 1931. Serial no. 542,547.

This invention relates to over-running shaft is journalled inahub 6,which has guidefriction' clutches particularly adapted for ways 7 formed thereon extending within the use in free-wheel automobile transmission drum 3. 7 gears, and my object is to devise a clutch of The wedging members hereinbefore rethis type in which the frictionally engaging ferred to are each'formed ofa part 8 slidably 50 surfaces of the driving and driven parts are engaging the guideways 7 and provided with I of large area, which will provide quick grip wedging surfaces 9, opposed to the wedging and quick release and in which any wedging surfaces of the shoes. Anti-friction rollers parts may be made of ample size for the load 10 positioned between the opposed surfaces :0 transmitted. of the wedging members and the clutch ends 5 I attain my object by means of a construcform the contacts between the wedging mem tion which may be briefly described as folbers and the clutch shoes. Preferably the lows. The driven shaft carries a drum havwedging surfaces of the clutch shoeand the ing an internal annular friction surface. wedging members are formed with shoulders to W'ithin this drum are positioned two clutch 11 limiting the radial movements of the rol1- 60 shoes having their ends spaced apart and ers. The wedging members are actuated by formed with wedging surfaces diverging inthe cams 12'formed on or secured to the end wardly. Between these ends are positioned of the drive shaft. It is evidentthat by. wedging members, radially movable and rotating the shaft the wedging members may which may be slidable in guides formed on be separated to wedge the rollers 10 between a hub loose on the driving shaft. on the the wedging surfaces 5 and9, thus spreading end of the driving shaft is formed a cam the ends of the clutch shoes and forming a adapted to engage the wedging members frictional driving engagement between the when the shaft is rotated to push them outshoes and the drum 3.. It is evident then that,

2a wardly to wedge apart the ends of the clutch if the drive shaft be rotated in the direction shoes and force the latter into tight engage: indicated by the arrow, a driving engagement with the drum. ment is automatically formed'between the The invention is hereinafter more specifidriving and driven shafts. If, however, the cally described and is illustrated in the acdriven shaft overruns the drive shaft, the

30 companying drawings in which wedging membersare released and the clutch Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my imshoes contact and release their grip on the proved clutch; and friction surface of the drum.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Various modifications are possible which In the drawings like numerals of referwould fall within the scope of myinvention, 5 ence indicate corresponding parts in the dif the principle of which is the use of radially ferent figures. movable wedging members to spread the ends I In the drawings 1 is the drive shaft and of the clutch shoes and thus cause them to 2 the driven shaft which are arranged in grip against the friction surfaces of the drum. alinement. To the shaft 2 is secured the secured to the driven shaft. drum 3, the inner periphery of which forms What I claim as my invention is:

a friction surface. Positioned within the In a friction clutch, the combination of a drum are a plurality of rigid clutch shoes 4 driven shaft; adrum secured thereto formed having wedging surfaces 5 formed at their with an annular internal friction surface; ends for engagement with the wedging memclutch shoes engaging the said surface having bers operable by the drive shaft. The drive their ends spaced apart and formed with wedging surfaces diverging inwardly; a hub concentric withthe driven shaft and formed with radial guides; wedging members, each comprising a part movable in saidv guides provided with wedging surfaces opposed to the wedging surfaces of the shoes and rollers interposed between the opposed surfaces; a drive shaft; and cams on the drive shaft adapted, when the said shaft is driving, to engage the wedging members and force them outwardly to spreadthe clutch shoes.

i ned; at To ntoi n d 1 1819 lay of May, 1931'."

JESSE H. TROMANHAUISERQ 

